Medical lancet



April 19, 1955 J. J. GRIFFITTS 2,706,432

MEDICAL LANCET Filed Jan. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.3. F149 2.

1 1 16 17 I iiiiii 2f 1 iinlm INVENTOR:

' JamesJ Gq'fljii'i's,

ATTORNEYS.

April 19, 1955 J. .1. GRIFFITTS 2,706,432

MEDICAL LANCET Filed Jan. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W I WU INVENTOR.

James J Grwc'i'i's,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent MEDICAL LAN CET James J. Grifiitts, Miami, Fla., assignor to Blood Bank of Dade County, Inc., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application January 2, 1952, Serial No. 264,421

8 Claims. (Cl. 128314) This invention relates to medical lancets and, more particularly, to those devices which are constructed to enable blood samples to be withdrawn from the superficial capillaries of the body by puncturing the skin of an individual so that the blood which leaves the capillaries can be collected from the surface of the skin.

In the practice of medicine, the examination of blood withdrawn by causing capillaries in the skin to bleed is a common procedure. This type of procedure is routine in hospitals, clinics and doctors oflices for the purpose of establishing an estimation of the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, to obtain blood to determine blood groups and Rh types, and for the preparation of blood slides for microscopic examinations.

A definite clinical illness associated with liver damage and jaundice has been delineated and, after extensive study and investigation, it has been established that an agent present in the blood of certain individuals causes liver damage when such blood is introduced into a susceptible patient. An example of the transmission of this liver damaging agent, the so called virus of serum hepatitis, has been associated with the injection of yellow fever vaccine into members of the armed forces. Apparently, a minute amount of human serum injected into tissues of a susceptible individual is sufficient to cause liver disease, as has been proven by epidemiological observations, and by experimental studies.

Experience gained heretofore has enabled observers to explain certain outbreaks of jaundice, wherein the disease was transmitted by using the same hypodermic needle for administering a given drug, as in the treatment of syphilis, and in such procedures as withdrawing blood from patients for studies, as in diabetics and others. It has been determined that the agent which causes serum hepatitis is relatively resistant to the disinfectant presently employed, and that, in some outbreaks caused by needle or syringe transmission of this disease, the commonly used disinfectant, alcohol, has not been effective in preventing the transmission of the disease. Certain other diseases may be transmitted by the introduction of a contaminated needle beneath the human skin such, for example, as syphilis and malaria. For example, the occurrence of malaria among drug addicts who have used the same hypodermic needle has established the fact that malaria may be transmitted with the introduction of only a very minute amount of blood.

It is common practice to use a sharp-pointed device with a cutting edge to establish bleeding from the capillaries for the purpose of withdrawing blood from the finger, ear, heel, or other peripheral sites. Following the use, the instrument is commonly placed in alcohol and other solutions for the purpose of sterilizing it before subsequent use. It is now recognized by medical authorities that such sterilizatiommay not be effective in preventing the transmission of serum hepatitis. For this reason and for the further reason of affording protection to individuals from whom blood will be drawn, a more certain method of sterilization has been recognized as being imperative, or, in the alternative, blood-letting instruments should be constructed so that they may be discarded after a single use. Accordingly, I have invented a novel blood-letting instrument which may be discarded after a single use.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a medical lancet which has a stopping surface integral therewith for eliminating an unwanted deep wound.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a blood-letting instrument made of materials which will enable it to be used once and then discarded at a minimum cost.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a medical lancet which may be held so as to be substantially concealed from the view of the patient.

Another object resides in the provision of a medical lancet which is of a single one piece construction and does not require additional holders, clamps, handles, or adjusting mechanism.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the manner in which the present invention is held in the hand of a laboratory technician.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one form of the present invention.

Figure 3 is an end view of the lancet illustrated in Figure 2 and as viewed from the cutting end thereof.

Figure 4 is a side edge view of the device illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of another form of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an end view of the device disclosed in Figure 5, as viewed from the cutting end thereof.

Figure 7 is a side edge view of that form of my invention illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 9 is an end view of that embodiment disclosed in Figure 8, as viewed from the cutting edge thereof.

Figure 10 is a side edge view of that form of my invention illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 12 is an end view of the device disclosed in Figure 11, as viewed from the cutting end thereof, and

Figure 13 is a side edge view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 11.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and, more particularly, to Figure 1 thereof, in which reference numeral 11 generally designates the lancet constructed in accordance with one form of my invention, it will be observed that the person using such a lancet grasps it between the thumb and two fingers with his thumb resting in a depression 12, provided upon one side of the lancet and with his index finger and middle finger respectively resting within two depressions 13 and 14 on the other side of the lancet.

Referr ng now to Figure 2, it will be readily apparent from an inspection of this figure that, in addition to the aforementioned depressions on either side of the instrument of the present invention, a pointed portion 15 is provided which projects longitudinally from the main body portion 16. of the lancet. One edge surface of the pointed portion 15 is sharpened to a knife-like edge 17 which facilitates the ease of insertion of the instrument into the capillary bed lying immediately below the surface of the skin of the patient. A surface 18 of the main body portion 16 is provided at the juncture of the knife-like edge portion 17 with the main body portion 16 for the purpose of providing a stop which will prevent the insertion of the instrument to a depth greater than that desired.

The stop member may take various shapes, such, for example, as that shown at 19 in Figures 5, 6 and 7, wherein this stop surface 19 projects laterally with respect to the main body portion 16 and is arcuately shaped as at 20, as best viewed in Figure 6, for the purpose-of eliminatmg the presence of any sharp points other than the pointed portion 15.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the main body portion 16 is arcuately shaped, as is best indicated at 21 in Figure 10, to thereby accomplish the same result as is accomplished by the curved portion 20 in Figure 6, namely, the elimination of any pointed projections which are not needed for the blood-letting operation.

It will be noted that in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 11, 12 and 13 the pointed end portion 15 has been arranged so that the horizontal edge thereof is in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the main body portion 16. The inclined edge 17 of the pointed end portion connects the point of the pointed end portion to the edge surface 22 of the main body portion.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that the length of the pointed end portion 15 may vary, depending upon the depth of incision desired to be effected. However, it has been determined that one such suitable dimension for this pointed portion 15 is of an inch.

Although the overall dimensions of the instrument may be varied, it is presently contemplated that this length should be so short, such, for example, as 1 /2 inches, that the device can be substantially concealed within the hand of the user and should be fabricated from a sheet of corrosion resisting material having a thickness of approximately 0.013 of an inch.

The lancet of the present invention may be fabricated from a sheet of material in any convenient manner, such as by pressing or stamping, for example, without altering the inventive concept thereof, and, therefore, the method of forming the instrument will not be further described.

Briefly stated in summary, the present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved medical lancet for the purpose of establishing a fiow of blood from the capillary bed lying immediately beneath the surface of the skin of a patient, the device being so constructed as to prevent incisions deeper than a predetermined depth. Furthermore, the blood-letting instrument of the present invention is constructed so as to be discardable after a single use with a minimum of expense.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and, it is my intention, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent in the United States is:

l. A blood letting instrument capable of making a puncture in the skin upon a thrust of said instrument along its longitudinal axis comprising an elongated thin band of material containing a main body portion, a pointed longitudinally projecting portion integral with one end of said main body portion and a stop portion carried by said main body portion and disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, said stop portion being positioned at the juncture between said pointed portion and the main body portion, the section of said pointed portion integral with said main body portion having a smaller width than said main body portion, the remaining width of said main body portion terminating at the point of juncture between said main body portion and said pointed portion to form an edge transverse to the longitudinal axis of said main body portion, said pointed portion having one edge thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body portion and another edge thereof inclined relative to said longitudinal axis, one of said edges connecting the point of said pointed end portion to a longitudinal edge of said main body portion.

2. A blood letting instrument as recited in claim 1 in which said main body portion is undulated to provide finger gripping depressions on either side thereof.

3. A blood letting instrument as recited in claim 1 in which said thin band of material has a length whereby it may be substantially concealed from view when held between the thumb on one side of the band and the index and middle fingers on the other side thereof.

4. A blood letting instrument as recited in claim 1 in which the distance between the said stop portion and the point of said pointed portion is about three-sixteenths of an inch.

5. A blood letting instrument capable of making a puncture in the skin upon a thrust of said instrument along the longitudinal axis of the instrument comprising an elongated thin band of material containing a main body portion, a pointed longitudinally projecting portion integral with one end of said main body portion and a stop portion carried by said main body portion and disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, said stop portion being positioned at the juncture between said pointed portion and the main body portion, the section of said pointed portion integral with said main body portion having a smaller width than said main body portion, the remaining width between said main body portion and said pointed portion forming an edge transverse to the longitudinal axis of said main body portion, said pointed portion having one edge thereof approximately in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the main body portion and another edge thereof inclined relative to said longitudinal axis and connecting the point of said pointed end portion to a longitudinal edge of said main body portion.

6. A blood letting instrument capable of making a puncture in the skin upon a thrust of said instrument along the longitudinal axis of the instrument comprising an elongated thin band of material containing a main body portion having finger gripping depressions alternately spaced on either side thereof, a pointed longitudinally projecting portion integral with one end of said main body portion and a stop portion carried by said main body portion and disposed transversely to the 1ongitudinal axis thereof, said stop portion being positioned at the juncture between said pointed portion and the main body portion, the section of said pointed portion integral with said main body portion having a smaller width than said main body portion, the remaining Width of said main body portion terminating at the point of juncture between said main body portion and said pointed portion to form an edge transverse to the longitudinal axis of said main body portion, said pointed portion having one edge thereof approximately in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the main body portion and another edge thereof inclined relative to said longitudinal axis and connecting the point of said pointed end portion to a longitudinal edge of said main body portion.

7. A blood letting instrument as recited in claim 6 in which the distance between the said stop portion and the point of said pointed portion is about three-sixteenths of an inch.

8. A blood letting instrument as recited in claim 6 in which said thin band of material has a length whereby it may be substantially concealed from view when held between the thumb on one side of the band and the index and middle fingers on the other side thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,178 Jordan Dec. 23, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,182 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1929 352,355 Great Britain July 9, 1931 

